October 22, 2018 - Presentation of Awards at the New York State Bar Association - ADR Section Fall Meeting, New York, NY (Lawrence Watson, Fellow Emeritus ACCTM, John Wilkerson, Fellow Emeritus ACCTM, and at the podium, Prof. Ray Kramer, Adjunct Professor of Clinical Law, NYU, accepting on behalf of the 1st Place Winner, Grace Watson Keesing.)

It is again with great pride that the American College of Civil Trial Mediators announces GRACE WATSON KEESING of New York Univeristy Law School, New York, NY, as the $10,000.00 firs t place winner of the second NYSBA/ACCTM sponsored Law Student Writing Competition. Ms. Keesing's article "Should Lawyers Owe a Duty of Candor in Mediation?" was selected out of 40 submissions this year.

The competition judging was done through the joint efforts of the Editorial Board of the ACCTM Journal of Mediation, a host of volunteer Fellows of the College and select members of the NYSBA Dispute Resolution Section. Each entry was reviewed in the blind and given an initial numerical grade by the judges. The eight entries receiving the highest grades where then ranked against each other to select the final winner. What emerged to capture the grand prize was clearly "the best of the best".

Ms. Keesing is currently practicing as an Australian lawyer specializing in litigation and dispute resolution and was unable to attend the award presentation in person. She shared the following thoughts regarding winning the competition:

"The NYSBA / ACCTM National ADR Law Student Writing Competition provides a unique opportunity for students to explore a fundamental and often overlooked aspect of our legal system -- alternative dispute resolution. For me, winning this competition has meant recognition and public acknowledgement of the importance of ADR as a subject of scholarship. The funds provided by the award will also enable me to pursue further training and accreditation in ADR, and to maintain this as a core facet of my legal practice."

Additional information concerning the 2019 competition will be forthcoming.